Coin-control mechanism for vending machines



May 27, 1930. 5. J. SWANSON COIN CONTROL MECHANISM FOR VENDING MACHINES Filed April 17. 1929 v 7 MW i -W2 I I l v I 0 Ii S AN k/fwA /vs ow i flswan Swanson} or res Louis, or OEEJ-IALF T0 use narrini,

or s'r. Louis coun'rY, MISSOURI mane taut Fries coin-conraot IJIEOHAHIEIEJI FOR} VENDING MAM-nuns Application filetliApril 1t,

The object of my invention is to make a com control mechanism for vending inachines. A further ob ect.1s to n'iake a coin control mechanism fora plurality of different sized coins. In the vending of articles y; that sell for amounts that require more than {one coin inydevice finds particular application. lflfjthe article to be vended sells, for

instance forforty (3&0) cents, it Will require the insertion of a quarter of a dollar, a nickel and a dime. In my device these three coins may be lnserted and by the manual turning of a single handle the coins; passed through the control mechanism into the coin container, and atthe sametime, the commodity actuating device cause to function in order to remove the commodity to bevendedffrom its container to the vendee. .My present insingle.armlrotatively mounted, wh ch arm represents thelcontact between my device and the commodit Y distrlbuting system, Which i .vention. is limited tothe coin controlmechanism together With the coin containerand a forms no part cfiny present invention. My ClQVlCQlS made of few and slmple parts that lend themselves readily to multiple production. It maybe easily and cheaply made,

assembledand repaired. It is so constructed ,that it vviilnot function except when the prop- I er sized coins andthe proper number of such I coins are inserted in the control mechanism.

The device may be made to accommodate as many diflerent coins as desired. The illus tration in this application shows the device designed forthe use of quarters, nickels and dimes. Of course the device may be also usedwhereit is only desirous of actuating thecontrol mechanism by a single co n.

1 With these and other objects in view my inventicn has relation to certain novel features ofconstruction and arrangement of parts as Fig. 1; is a sectional elevation showing ajcoin as originally lIlSQT Qtl 1n the Will be hereinafter. more fully described,

iioin ted outin the claim and illustrated in the drawing invvhich a front elevationof device.

of Fig. 3

control mechanism.

a side elevation of my device." sectional plan view of Fig. 2. 3

1929. derial No. 355,810.

r Fig. is a sectional elevation similar to Fig.

4, showing the coin immediately prior to its .meral 8 designates thefrcnt plate of my. de

vice. The coin receptacle 6 is attached to the front plate 8. Numeral 9 designates the dime spout, numeral 10 the nickel spout and numeral 11 the quarter spout. Thesespouts are of such size as to accommodate the coins indicated and lead at their inner ends to coin slots to be subsequently described. Numeral l2 designates the coin control mechanism generally. Mydevice is so constructed that if a coin smaller than the size indicated on a coin spout, is inserted in acoin spout, the coin Will pass directly through the coin control mechanism 12 into the coin receptacle 6 Without having any action on the coin control mechanism; thatis, ifa dime or nickel is in serted in the quarter slot or a dime is inserted in the nickel slot the coin Will pass through the control mechanism into thecoin receptaclewithout actuating the coin register and be lost to the operator. The device furthermore Will not function if designed for forty the. shell 16 .passirigthrough (1111018 in the front "plate 8. In the upper lateral, face of the shell 16 are cut parallel arcuated slots. l7, l8 and 19. In the bottom lateral face of 'thejshell lilfdiametrically opposite to the slots .17 18 and 19, are cut slots 20, 21 and 22, the slots opposite each other arethe same 7 size. fllhe slots and 29 are large enough to admit the largest coin inthe illustration, Hf

a quarter; the slots 18 and 21 are large enoughto admit thesecond largest coin, namely a nickel and the slots 19 and-22 are large enough to admit the smallest coin, only, namelyadime- It will be seen that when slot 17, it will fall through the shell 16 and out of the slot into the coin receptacle 6; that if a nickel is insertedin the slot 18, it will fall through the shell 16 and out of the slot 21 into thecoin receptacle 6; that if a dime is inserted in the slot 19, it will fall through the shell 16 and out of the slot 22, into the coin receptacle 6. Between the slots 17 and 18 isformed an arcuated slot 23; be-

tween slots 18 and 19 is formed an arcuated slot 24; between the slot 19 and the free face of the shell 16 is formed an arcuated slot 25. These slots 23, 24 and 25 are larger than the slots, 17 18 and 19 and are of the same length and are used for purposes to be subsequently described. The inside surface of the'shell 16 is cut away over the slots 20, 21 and 22, as shown at 26, forming the shoulder 27 at the right edge of the slots 20, 21 and 22. The inside face o'fthe shell 16 is likewise cut away diametrically opposite to the cutaway portion at 26, as shown at 28 beneath the slots 17, 23,18,24, 19 and 25 in an arcuated manner. Numeral 29 designates acylindrical cup closed at one end by the wall 30. Numeral 31 designates a shaft centrally positioned on the wall. 30. Numeral 32 designates an end closure secured in the open end of the cylindrical cup 29, by means of the screws 33. Numeral 34 designates a'shaft centrally secured in the end closure 32; numeral 35 designates an arm secured to the free end of the shaft 3 1. Numeral 36 designates a projection formed on the free 'end of the arm 35. r

The shaft 31 is of such size as to permit its insertion in the hole15. The cylindrical cup 29 is of such size as to permit its insertion in the shell 16 by sliding engagement. When the cylindrical cup 29 is positioned in the shell 16, so that the shaft 31 projects through the hole 15, the cylinder 37 is secured to the end of the shaft 31 by frictional sliding engagement and by'means of a pin 38, which passes through the cylinder 37 and the shaft 31. on the cylinder 37 is secured near its inner end, the pointer "39. 'Numera l AO designates a handle, which is secured to the cylinder 37 by passage therethrough.

On the rectangularplate '13 at the upper vertical position ofthe pointer 39 is indicated the start: for the rotation of the pointer p v By the structure thus far described, it will be observed that when the handle 40 is rotated that the cylindrical cup 29 will be likewise rotated in the shell 16, and thatthie arm 35 to- 3 gether with its projection 36 will be rotated.

the lateral surface of the cylindrical cup 29 are cut arcuated slots 41, 42 and 13. There tare six of such slots, the one set of three being diametrically opposite to the. other set of three. The slots are of the samelengthand drical' cup 29.

are of suflicient size to permit the passage control mechanism 12 from one side of the cylindrical cup 29, through to the other side, through diametrically opposite slots. These slots are so positioned that when the cylindrical cup 29 is assembled as indicated in the drawings, the slot 43 will be in registration with the slots 17 and20 of the shell 16; the slots 42 will be in registration with the slots 18 and 21 of the shell 16, and the slots 11 will be in registration with the slots 19 and 22 of the shell 16.

It will be seen that when this registration of slots is effected that coins inserted in the slots 17 18 and 19 will pass through the shell 16 and the cylindrical cup 29 and be deposited in the coin receptacle 6.

The device as thus far described would simply permit the insertion of coins andthe passage through the coin control mechanism into the coin receptacle 6 and permit the complele'rotation of the pointer '39 as well as'tlie arm indepcudentof Whether or not coins had been inserted in the-coin control mechanism. The object of. mydevice is to beable to selectively rotate the arm '35 by means of with its projection 36 is the part of my device that is used to actuate the merchandise delivery portion of the Vending machine. It will be seen, therefore, that by the single manipulation of the handle 19, after the. proper coins have been inserted in the coin register will cause the deposit-of the 'coins in the coin receptacle 6, :and also actuate the merchandise delivery mechanism. The handle 40 may be rotated in either direction through the sin'allarc of a circle Without the insertion of any :coi .s, but this correspond-- ing rotation of the arm 35 is not suilicient to actuate the commodity distributing mechanism. In order to perm tthe rotation of the, handle 10 through a sutiici'ent arcto rotate cup 29 are positioned-the coin guides 47. One

ofthe purposes of these guides is to guide the coins in their travel'through the cylin- As many coin guides 17 must be supplied as there are slots 17, 1:8 and 19. In other words, in the illustration there must be one such coin guide for the dime, one for the .niclreljand one for the quarter. The coin guides 4-7 are cylindrical disks of such a diameter as to lit in sliding engagement in the cylindr cal cup Thetotal widths of the 00. curedto the rod 51 bythreadcd engagement 1 guide 1-7.

t ons i lnthe hiteral surface of the coin guide 47 immediately above and below the key hole sha .d 49 and 50. isin sliding engagement in the holes 49 and Numeral 52designatesa slide that is seby means of a projection that extends in the lrey hole shaped perforation d8. Numeral 53 designates a coiled spring positioned in the hole 49 below the rod 51. Numeral H54: designates a plug in threaded engagement in the outer end of the hole 49. The rod 51 is of such length that in its normal position it projects slightly beyond the edge of the coin It is held in this normal position by means of the coiled spring The slide 52 together with therod 51can only be moved diametrically inwardly by compressing the coiled spring 53. Numerals 55 and 56 indithe coin receptacle Without actuating the device andthe coin will be lost to the operator. After onecoin guide'has been inserted, for

instance, the quarter guide in the illustration, the next coin guide for instance the nickel gulde is similarly inserted; the outer face of the first coin guide acts as an outer wall to the subsequent coin guide and the outer wallsurface of the second coin guide,

perforation 48 are formed the holes Numeral 5i des gnates a rod that cats guides that are secured to the surface oi the coin guides 47 for the purpose of guidthe shoe 52 diametrically and preventing ateral movement. In assembling the coin guides l7 in the cylindrical cup 29, the rod 1 51 depressed until its outer end is flush with the peripheral surface of the coin guide t? and moved inwardly until the outer edges of the guides and 56 come in contact with the inner face oi. the wall 30. The coin guide t? is then turned until the end of the rod 51 i tinned the coin will be forced radially inwardly compressing the slide 52 against the comshown in Fig; 1, insert a quarter in the quarter cts as a wall for the next succeeding coin guide etcflw l m l WVhen the coinguides have been assembled and the: cylindrical cup 29 assembled in the shell 16, asindicated, the device isready for operation.

It will be observed immediately that the rotation of the handle 40 is limited, in

both directions to the small arc of acircle it when no cows are inserted.

his limitation is caused by the protruding ends ofthe rods 51, which come in contact with the edges of the slots*23,24 and 25. r

In order to operate the control mechanism with coins, assume that the pointer 39 is in its vertical or starting position and that the handle 40 is in the horizontalposition asli d slot. It will now be observed that when the handle 40 is turned in either direction, that the coin will come in contact with the edge of the slot 17, and that when the turning is conpression of the coiled spring 53, and that protrudes through the hole 46. The outer i cd' es oi the guides 55 and 56 of this coin v ndc 4-7 will then come in contact with the nner iace of the wall 30. On each of the tides 52 are formed two right angle projec- 3ectioiis 57 and 58is such that the coin that l is intended to beinserted therein will be supportedand prevented from passing through 1t, but of such size that the next smallercoin' that is to be used in the device will pass will prevent the quarter through, but wlllper nit the nickel and dime through it. That is, in the illustration, the coin guide that is designed tor the quarter 57 and 58 which are in sliding contact. with the guides 55 and 56, i The space be tween the inner ends of the right angle proin the initialinstance.

ing nowthat the pointer 39 is in its original position and a nickel inserted in the nickel this will depressradially inwardlythe protruding end of the rod 51 in the hole 416, and

that now the continued rotation is prevented by the protruding ends of the rod 51 in the holesd l and 45. .In other words,the operation of the controlwlnechanism is prevented by the mere insertion of the quarter. i rssum-n slot, the same rotation will be permitted as In this case the nickel coming in contact with the edge of the slot v18 depressestherslido 52 and the protruding end of, the rod 51 in the holew l5. .The continued rotation is now prevented by the protruding end of the rod 51 in the hole 445;

Now assuming that thepointer39 is in its i original position insert the dime in thedime from passing a to pass through; the guide that isdesigned fol-the nickel, will preventthe'nickel from passing through, will allow the dune to pass through. This is done to prevent the operator'froni inserting a coin smaller than r is intended and having the control mecha i nisrn' function. It a nickel is inserted in the quarter slot it willsimply fall through to slot andcontinue the rotation in eitheridi- .rection as before, It will now be seen that the rotation is not limited because the last obstacle to the rotation has been removed, 1 namely the protruding end [of the rod 51 in the hole 14 has been depressed. The rotation may now be continued until the slots in which the coins are positioned come in registration with the lower slots'in the shell 16.; W hem- 1 V thisoccurs the coins drop from the mechanism into the coin receptacle. discerned this involves a rotation of degrees. Inthis positionthe protruding end of the rods 51 assume their normal position a control As is ShWl1-&t26.i!1 Fig. 4. A rotation in the opposite direction is prevented because the protruding ends of the rods 51 come 1n contact with "the shoulder 27. In order to bring the 5 device to its original position, therefore, it becomes necessary to rotate the handle 40 in the same direction through additional 180 degrees. I By these means all the purposes of the controlmechanism have been accomplished by the simple turning of the handle 40 the coin control mechanism has been operated as Well as tlie'projection 36 which projection 36 in its rotation-"has caused to function the merchandise distributing mechanism which is not a part of my device; the control mechanism. can only be madeto operate by theinsertion of the proper coins. If the proper coin is not inserted in the proper slot, it is lost to the 3o operator. No less than the total number of coins intended to operate the device Will operate it;

What I claim and mean to secure by Letters Patent is:

26 In a device of the character described, a

shell, a coin receptacle, a front plate said shell and coin receptacle secured in operative relationship on said front plate, a cylindrical cup rotatively mounted in said shell, a shaft -30 secured to said cylindrical cup at one end, an

end closure secured in the open end of said cylindrical cup, a shaft secured to said end closure, a handle secured to the free end of said'first shaft, an arm secured to the free V end of said second shaft, means for actuating a commodity delivery-device secured to said arm, said shell and cylindrical cup having a plurality of arcuated slots formed therein, coin guides in sliding engagement in A0 said shell, said guides having holes formed therein, a rod in sliding engagement in each ofsaid coin guides said rod projecting in its normal position beyond the periphery of said coin guide, a slide secured to said rod, said coin guides in position in said shell so that said guides Will be in registration with certain of the slots in said shell and cylindrical cup and so that the projections of said rods will normally extend through holes in said l cylindrical cup into certain other slots in said shell, so that when the proper coin is inserted in any slot, it will depress one of said slides and ,one of said guides and the projection of one of rods, and when the proper coins have been inserted in all of the slots of said shell, the slides in all the coin guidesand all-the rod projections Will be depressed so as to permit the rotation of said m cylindrical cup in said shell, until the coins come in registration with other slots in said shell and fall into said coin receptacle.

. In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

SWAN J. SWANSON. 

